By Donna Porter
From Associated Content

Kent Frank of Miami, FL was convicted today of eight counts of sex tourism and child pornography charges following a five-week trial in federal court. His sexual victims extended to Cambodia, and after almost two days of deliberations the federal jury in Miami found Frank guilty of eight counts charged in a 10-count indictment. The trial was held before Judge Adalberto Jordan.

Child sex tourists are individuals that travel to foreign countries to engage in sexual activity with children. It is estimated that more than one million children worldwide are drawn into the sex trade annually. The victims frequently live in poor countries where the law is thought to be more easily avoided or corrupted. These poverty-stricken areas are home to children who are sold for sexual exploitation, or who sell themselves, for basic necessities such as food.

The jury found that Frank engaged in commercial sex acts with three minors during two separate trips to Cambodia between September 2003 and January 2004. Evidence showed that Frank paid three Cambodian minors money so that he could take sexually explicit and nude pictures of the girls. The jury heard evidence that the defendant took sexually explicit images of several other minors in addition to the four females referenced in the indictment.

The charge of sex tourism or traveling in foreign commerce and engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor is a new provision of law contained in the PROTECT Act, which stands for “Prosecutorial Remedies and Other Tools to end the Exploitation of Children Today.” As of April 30, 2003 the law provides stiffer penalties and higher maximum sentences for sex tourists and child pornographers.

The sex tourism charges carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and the child pornography production charges carry a minimum penalty of 30 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Assistant Attorney General Fisher and U.S. Attorney Acosta praised the efforts of the anti-trafficking unit of the Cambodian National Police, particularly Captain Keo Thea, for their efforts to combat juvenile prostitution in Cambodia.

Additionally, an organization AFESIP (Agir pour les Femmes En Situation Precaire, or Acting for Women in Distressing Situations), which sheltered the four females after they were found at Frank’s hotel, were instrumental in protection and care of the victims, according to Fisher.

The U.S. Department of Justice maintains that sex tourism is a very lucrative industry and calculations indicate two to fourteen percent of the gross domestic product of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand derives from sex tourism.

While Asian countries and India are historically famous destinations for child-sex tourists, perpetrators increasingly travel to Mexico and Central America for their sexual exploits.

“This case underscores the Department of Justice’s strong commitment to prosecuting Americans who sexually exploit children in foreign countries,” said Assistant Attorney General Fisher.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Justice